Create curved meshes without using Paths?
Sorry, this may not be pleasing to hear, but there are two ways to do this.


The hard way (manually model the object to be curved)
The easy way (it requires using a curve modifier.)


Since the first way really requires step by step or a tutorial, and is out of scope for this site, I'll give you the easy way.

Using a Curve modifier

Create your object that you want to curve, make it the length that you want it to be. Be sure it has plenty of vertical subdivisions or edge loops, the more, the merrier. (actually, just the smoother after curving.) This picture shows the mesh properly set up to be curved, notice the "up-down" lines, these are the loops I was talking about.



I know you didn't want to use curves, but Create a curve! in order to get something really nice without a lot of trouble, you need curves, and once you get used to them, they really aren't that bad.

Once you've shaped the curve just right you can re-select the mesh and add a curve modifier. isert the curve you just created under the Object parameter.



Very good! you now have a curved object: if it hangs off the edge of the curve a little, just mess with the location of the mesh.